Julius zobel



Nrrhn Srarns ATENT JULIUS ZOBEL, 'OF NEW YORK, N.

BTTERY-CELL.

STFEOIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No: 306,796, dated October21, 1884.

Application tiled January 5, 1884.

,T0 @ZZ whom, 'Z may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JULrUs ZoBnL, a citizen of Prussia, and aresidentofNew York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Cells for Batteries, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved method of constructing the cells ingalvanic batteries,77 whereby the solution in the cell will beconstantly supplied'with the requisite proportion of sulphate of copperin solution and be retained at the proper height always to cover thecopper electrode, but not to reach the zine electrode, andthe interiorof the cell kept clean and free from deposits of copper, thus avoidingexpense and time incident to repeated charging and cleaning of thecells, and also effecting a saving in the zinc and sulphate of copperused.

In the drawing, which shows my improved cell mostly in section, A is thejar of the cell, made of any suitable material and in any desired shape.Around its upper edge are formed screw-threads, (seen at tu) either inthe material of which theja-r is made or in a cap or ring rmly attachedto the jar.

B is a cap or cover adapted to fit the upper rim of the jar.

C is a ring threaded on its inside to match into the threads a on thejar, and provided with an inwardly-prejecting iiange or lip, c, whichlaps over the edges ofthe cover B, thus iirmly binding the cover and jartogether when the ring C is screwed down.

l) is a little rubber gasket or other suitable air-tight packing for thejoint between the jar and the cover.

l is a receptacle placed on the top of the cover B, preferably coveredwith a removable lid, c, through which is a hole, c.

l? is a tube, made of material not acted upon by the solution, extendingfrom about the line of the top of the copper electrode upwardly throughthe bottom ot' the receptacle E,-preferably nearly to its upper edge.That portion of the tube which is within the cup E is slotted from thetop downward nearly or quite to the bottom of the cup with a number ofslots or other openings, f, for the free passage of the solution withoutallowing the sulphate- (No model.)

of-eopper crystals to enter the tube, as hereinafter set forth. The topof the tube is also preferably covered to exclude the crystals.

G is the zinc electrode, and H is the copper electrode.

I is the connecting-wire for the zinc electrode, and J is thelike wirefor the copper electrode. That portion of these wires which is in thesolution should preferably be insulated therefrom.

K is a little chamber in the cover B, which is open to thejar A, butclosed to the cup E. Through the wall of this chamber passes a littletube, L, which is bent downwardly at its outer end and placed in themereuryin a mercury-cup, Z, thus forming a mercury-valve.

X is a little hydrometer, which I prefer to place permanently in thccell, so that when the specific gravity of the solution becomes 7o toogreat it may be readily ascertained.

rllhe operation of my improved battery-cell is as follows: The copperand zinc electrodes beingplaced in position in the jar, and connectionwith the wires I and .I having been made as usual, I first fill the jarwith a solution of sulphate of zinc or of magnesia or any suitable saltused for this purpose, and I then, preferably, although it is notabsolutely essential, add a sufficient quantity of sulphate-of- Socopper crystals (blue vitriol) to start the cell in operation. Thesolution of course covers the zinc plate. I then place the rubber gasketD or other packing in its place, put on the cover B, and screw the ringC iirmly down, thus sealing the joint between the cover and the jarair-tight. rlhe zinc G has a hole in its central part, through which thetube passes. The solution immediately commences to acton thesulphate-of-copper crystals, if used, and 9o on the metals when thecircuit is closed, and a gas is generated which rises through thesolution to the upper part of the jar, and the process being continuedthe chamberK and the upperpart of the jar become filled with the gas,thus creating a pressure upon the surface of the solution. This pressureincreases until the solution is forced upward through the tube F intothe receptacle E and escapes through the slots f into the receptacle,inwhich roo has previously been placed a quantity of drysulphate-of-copper crystals, which crystals the solution immediatelycommences to dissolve. lhe rnercnrywalve L l is so adjusted as to resista pressure greater than that required to litt the solution through thetube into the lower part of the receptacle E; but the solution riseshigher the pressure increases until the mercury-valve is opened andallows the gas to pass through it. \Vhen this takes place, the pressureon the upper part ot' the jar and in the chamber l( is suddenly relievedand the solution which has been t'orced into the receptacle E,and whichhas now by its dissolvingthc sulphate-otcopper crystals contained in thereceptacle become a saturated solution ot' sulphate of copper, flowsback again through the slotsj" and the tube F into the jar. Thisoperation is repeated as ot'ten as the gas is generated in snllicientquantities. The valve is so adjusted that there will always remain inthe jar sullicient ol' the sulphate-oifzinc solu tion to cover the zinc.paratus automatically supplies or replenishes the solution contained init with the sulphate of copper as itis exhausted. rlhns contact betweentheblueliquor and the zinc is prevented, and the solution always remainsin a proper condition for use. lt will be seen that Contact between theblue solution and the zinc can not take place, because the solution willdissolve the sul phate-o'leopl'ier crystals in the receptacle E only solong` as the solution is not a saturated solution. rllhus during thecommence nient ot' the operation ol' the battery the solution, which isthen weak, Awill dissolve sut'ticient ol' the crystals contained in thereceptacle to make that portion ofthe solution which is in thereceptacle a saturated solution, and thus will continue until the bluesolution has risen in the jar to about theheight ol" the bottoni of thetube F, then the solution which is lorced upward into the receptaclewill be it sell'a partiallysaturated solution, being weakcned only bythe reduction consequent on its use since the last replenislnnent. ltwill also beobserved that si nce the crystals in the receptacle E havevolume, when they are dissolved and carried down into the jar thecontents ofthejar is intermittently increased. The surplus white orsulphate-of-zinc solution passes out through the tube L and theinercury-valve Z.

I do not liinit iuyselt'to the details of construct-ion shown, sincethey may be very ex- In this manner the a-ptensively altered and stillnly invention be elnbodied.

`Having described my invention, I clai1n- 1. Th e described process-ol'automatically replenishing the sulphate ol' copper in the solutioncontained in a battery-cell, consisting in retaining the gases generatedby the battery in such manner that they exert pressure upon the surfaceot' .the solution, which pressure causes a portion of the solution topass into a separate chamber into contact with sulphate ol' copper, then relieving the pressure upon the solution, whereby the portionthereof' which was t'oreed into the separate chamber is allowed to flowback again into thcsolution contained in the jar, sul'istautially as and`for the purposes set l'orth.

rlhe combination ol" a closed j ar provided with the usual zinc andcopper electrodes, so-

lution, and fittings, a. tube connecting the intcrior of t-he jar belowthe surface ol the solnU tion with a separate chamber in which iscontained snlphate-otcopper crystals, and avalve connecting theairrhamber at the top ot' the jar with the open air, substantially asand l'or the purposes set l'orth.

3. The combination ot thejar A, the cover B, the threaded ring l, the enp E, the tube F, the chamber K, the tube L, and the mercurycup Z,substantially as and l'or the purposes set forth.

rt. The combination olf an air-tight jar provided with'the usual zincand copper electrodes, solution, and littings, the receptacle E, thetube l?, the tube L, and mercury-cup substantially asand for thepurposes set forth.

5. The combination, in a battery-cell, ot' an air-tight Ijar providedwith the usual copper and zinc electrodes, solution, and fittings, areceptacle, E, and tube Il?, extending from the jar into the receptacleE, pierced with openings in it throughout substantially the entireportion thereo'twhich is contained in the receptacle E, the tube L, andthe mereury-cup substantially as and i'or the purposes set l'orth.

Signed at New York, in the county ol' New York and State oit' New York,this 31st day of December, A. l). 38H3.

.l tll'ill TS ZO IEE l).

Vv' i tnesses .Term H. Ives, HENRY L. To'rifrrz.

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